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Dubai's Emaar faces US wrongful imprisonment case

Tue, Jul 13 2010

DUBAI, July 13 (Reuters) - Dubai's Emaar Properties
EMAR.DU on Tuesday dismissed charges in a $61.1 million U.S.
lawsuit that its actions led to the wrongful imprisonment and
beating of a former tenant.

"The allegations are baseless and the company does not wish
to comment," Emaar said in an emailed statement.

Public relations consultant Lionel Lombard, a U.S. citizen
who lived in an Emaar building in Dubai, is suing the builder of
the world's tallest tower on grounds of alleged racial
discrimination, harassment, wrongful imprisonment and torture,
according to the complaint document filed on July 7 at the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of
California.

"Lionel Lombard was twice arrested and unlawfully and
arbitrarily detained and maliciously prosecuted," the document
said.

It said the treatment occurred after Lombard sent emails,
made phone calls, protested in person and called the police over
"racial discrimination against people of African descent at
Emaar's The Springs development".

It also followed visits by Lombard to Emaar's chairman,
Mohammed Alabbar, the document said. Alabbar has been summoned
to appear in the case.
"He (Lombard) also sues for compensation of property seized
by government officials in conjunction with his arbitrary
arrest, forced disappearance and prolonged detention," the
document said.

During his time in prison, Lombard was "savagely beaten",
according to the document.

"Plaintiff suffered abrasions and bruises and was brutally
chained and moved to a punishment cell for three weeks ... He
was restrained, denied proper food and water, medical care or
washing facilities," the document said.

"We strongly deny those accusations. Dubai police does not
torture anybody .... This is all a figment of his imagination
and entirely baseless."

Lawyers for Lombard said the case was being filed in
California because Emaar USA conducts substantial business there
and because Lombard also feared he might not get a fair trial in
the United Arab Emirates.

(Reporting by Jason Benham; Additional reporting by Tamara
Walid; Editing by Andrew Callus and David Cowell)

Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

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